Fountain pen



FOUNTAIN PEN Filed July 25, 1940 Patented Oct. 28, 1,941

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOUNTAIN PEN t Glenn E. JohndohLv-Denyer, Colo. Application July 2s, 1940', seriaiNo. 346,890

(erizo-5 0) 6 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in fountain pens and has for its principal object the provision of a fountain pen which will supply a uniform flow of ink to the pen point while the pen is in use; which will not flood when the pen is not in use; and which will start to Write immediately after a long period of disuse.

In the usual fountain p en, the air bubbles entering to displace the ink interferes with the flow of the discharging ink causing a broken and uncertain flow. This air also must act against the entire weight of the ink in the pen in order to force itself through the ink passage to the reservoir. It is often unable, due to capillary adhesion in the narrow passage, to counteract this weight and remains entrapped in the ink discharge passages preventing further discharge of the ink.,4

An object of this invention is to provide a construction in which the entering air will not interfere in any way with the discharging ink .and in which the air will not be required to operate against the weight or pressure of theink in the pen.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency.

These will become more apparent from the following description. l

In the following detailed description of the invention reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. merals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description. n

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectionthrough a fountain pen illustrating one method of incorporating the invention therein. v

Fig. 2 is a magnified sectional view of the point extremity of the pen of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are cross sections through the pen of Fig. 1, taken on the section lines of corresponding number in the latter figure.

Fig. Bis a side view partially in section through a fountain pen illustrating an alternate method of incorporating the invention in a fountain pen.

Fig. 7 is a magnified sectional view of the tip extremity of the pen of Fig. 6

Fig. 8 is a similar magnified sectional View illustrating the invention applied to a typical standard pen.

Fig. 9 is a detail plan View'of the feeder member used in the pen of Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 10 is a detail plan view of a second form of feeder member as used in the pen of Figs. 6 and 7.

Fig. 11 is a detail view of an ladapting device forl Like nu-I adapting present fountain l pens to' the new construction.

` The fountain pen illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive consists of a barrel Il) 'containing the usual ink sack II. The ink sack II .is secured on the inner 'extremity of a pen holder orpen-receiving bushing I2 in which a pen I3 is wedged by means .of la feeder member I4. The member I4 contains anink channel 2| for conveying ink to thepen I3.

As .thus far described, the fountain penis of the usual construction, the bushing is forced into the lower extremity of the barrel to seal the latter and any suitable filling device may be employed v for lling the ink sack I I. In certain types of pens the sack II is eliminated and the ink is filled directly into the barrel. The invention would function equally well on this type of fountain pen.

In applying this invention, the upper extremity of the bushing' I2 is closed by means of a relai tively thick head I5 and an air chamber I5 is :formed between the feeder member I4 and the head I6. An ink tube I1 extends axially through the air chamber I5 and through the head I6. 'Ihe head is drilled for the passage of the ink tube and 25.

thsdrill opening is of larger diameter than the ink tube so as to leave a cylinder-shaped air p assage I8 entirely around` the ink tube I1 where it passes through the head Ii6. The ink tube I'I contains 4an ink passage I 9 which extends a relatively short' distance into the feeder member II yand then extends outwardly at right angles to Vform an ink vport 20 above the pen I3 in the channel 2|.

While the invention is not limited to exact sizes it has been found by long experimentation that thesizes and dimensions are of extreme importance. For instance, it has been found that the invention works at its greatest efciency if the distance between the port 20 and the inner extremity of thefeeder member I4 is Tag and if the length of the air chamber I5 and the length of the cylindrical .air passage I8 are both similarly Tag.

The diameterof the ink tube is slightly larger than 11g, to wit, .067". The bore in the head I6 is .125. This forms the cylindrical air passage of .029 width around the ink tube.

to the ink sack I I.

' No ink flows 'downwardly through the airpasthe 'ink passage I9.

feeder member.

extended downwardly through the passagev described form.

sage IB. The reason for this is believed to be that, due to the capillary attraction, the ink can more readily flow through the tubular ink channel I9 than through the relatively thin cylindrical channel I8'. It is also possibly due to the factthat the ink cannot .follow by capillary attraction outwardly around the sharp inner corner of the air passage at the point where it enters the air chamber |9. But, regardless of cause, it is a fact, demonstrated with transparent structurs, that the ink does not naturally ow into thechamber The air in passing upwardly in the passage'ZI interference so as to maintain the air in the chamber at atmospheric pressure; Thejairwijll ow from the lchamber into the ink sack through the air passage whenever the opportunity is"pre'- sented dueto the natural vibration and moveattention ,to thev fact that in this invention, no airis attempting Ato pass the link lowingdown V'Ofccasi'O'naIly, Adue to the vextremeV and sudden temperature changes or during filling operations the ink may be forced into the air chamber I but thsink is quickly discharged down the, channel 2| to lthe' pen during the first use thereafter and thefchamber thereafterremains dry. .This feature, "probably accounts for the fact that the improved fountain pen does not fiood due to temperature changes since any expansion of the air in the sack isabso'rbed by expulsion of air vfrom the chamber I5. l

The above features can be incorporated in the fountain pen in many ways. In Figs.y 6 and "7, the same features have been incorporated ina pen In this form, a feedermember 22 is employed having a passage 23Y extending throughout its length. In theusual'fountain pen this passage conveys both the ink and the air to and fromv the In this invention, an airY channel 24 is formed along the upper side of thev feeder member, above a pen 25, and an ink tube`26 yis 23 to Va-point immediately behind the pen 25. yThis 4 vabove the pen 45.

' does not encounter the entire weight of the ink and can readily flow to the chamber I5 without I ments of the act of'writing. It is desired tocall At the upper extremity ofthe adapter, the ink` tube passes through a relatively larger air passage 38 and, at its lower extremity, the ink tube communicates with an ink passage 39 which opens to an ink port 4U in a longitudinal channel 4| cut in one side of the adapter. The air channel aligns with the usual feeding groove 42 in the feeder 44. The operation of the adapted form is similar to the previously described forms. The ink iiows downwardly through the ink tube and channel 39 and discharges from the port 4|) immediately The air flows upwardly past the port in the channel 4| to the air chamber ,3.5 @im thence to the ink sack through'the pas- "sa-ge 33.

No air enters the ink tube and no ink enters the air chamber 36.

' When thefountain pen is carried in the users pocket with the point uppermost, or in a womans Y purse in a horizontal position, the ink from'the passage 2| will Adrain back to the walls of the air chamber. v The quantity of ink from the passage isA so minute that it only moistens the walls of thjechamber and leaves the interior free for air now.

Any expansion in the reservoir `contents simply forces air through theair chamber and through the evacuated passage 2| tothe pen without eX- truding fany ink. Thus, all cap ooding is entirely eliminated.

While a specific form of the improvement has ybeen described and illustrated herein, it is desiredto be understood that the same may be having a different type of feeder member.

. 'without departing from the spirit of the invention. A

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent ist `1. Afountain pen comprising: an ink reservoir; a penholder at one extremity of said reservoir; a lwritingpen projecting from said holder; a feeder member in the lower extremityv of said holder for feeding ink to said writing pen; a head inthe upper extremityof'said holder; anair chamber between said head and said feeder member; arst air passage through said head comf municating between said reservoir and said chamber;y a second air passage between said tube is sealed to the feeder member by means 'of a sealing bushingZI. The tube 261extends throughZ an air chamber 23 and through a surrounding'air passage'29 in a head 30 similarly to the previously vThe .operation of this form is also similar, that is,"ink`1flows down the tubev 26 toithevpen and air' flows. upwardly through theA channel 24 towthe' chamber '28,thence through 'the' air passage 29'to the inkjsack.

For `adapting presentfounta'in `pens to the proved construction ofthis invention, an adapter .31, su'hj as `shown in Fig. l1 isemployeg'i.Vv The 'adapter 3|. The latter is forced intofthe'bush'- ing toA the upper extremity thereof andthe feedermember 34 is then forced into place'aglainst the lowerv extremityy ofthe adapter, yas shownin The adapter comprises 'a cylindrical, member n havingA its nudportion cut away to'form an vair 'amber 36 through which an ink'tube y3'I passes.'5

chamber Yand the atmosphere; an ink tube extending from rsaid reservoir through said chams berto said feeder member; and an ink 'passage through said'tub'e and through said feeder member to said pen. 2. A fountain pen comprising: 'anli'nk reservoir; apen holder Aat one 'extremity o ffsaidreser- Voir; a writing pen projecting fromsaid holder;

a feeder member in the lower extremity of said holder for feeding ink t-o`said 'writing pen; a head in the upper extremity of Vsaid holder; anair chamber between said head and said feeder 'mem-` ber; a'first air passage through said head communicating between, saidv rservoir and 'said chamberand the atmosphere; and an ink tube extending ffrom saidy reservoir through said first rvair passage and through said chamber to said feeder Vmember to ,supply ink t'o the latter, `said rst'passage beingflar'ger than said tube to'fallowV the air to flow around said'tub'e.

3. A fountainpen comprising: an inlr'reservoira pen holder atjoneextremity ofsaid reservoir; .a writing pen'projelgjfm s,a,id'-'holder;

.faj feeder memberin ythe lower extremity -of-'said -Llwlderfqrfeeding1121 PO.Sa1S1 -Writin g;pen; -'fid "in 'the 'upper extremityof said holder; 'an air chamber between said head and said feeder member; a first air passage through said head communicating between said reservoir and said chamber; an ink tube projecting from said feeder member through said air 'chamber and through said rst air passage to said reservoir, said tube being smaller than said passage; a second air passage from said chamber through said feeder member to said writing pen; and an ink passage through said ink tube and through said feeder member to supply ink to said writing pen.

4. A fountain pen comprising: an ink reservoir; a pen holder at one extremity of said reservoir; a writing pen projecting from said holder; a feeder member in the lower extremity of said holder for feeding ink to said writing pen; a head in the upper extremity of said holder; an air chamber between said head and said feeder member; a first air passage through said head communicating between said reservoir and said chamber; an ink tube projecting from said feeder member through said air chamber and through said first air passage to said reservoir, said tube being smaller than said passage; a second air through said ink tube and through said feeder member to a port in said second air passage above said writing pen.

5. An adapter for fountain pens comprising: a plug-like member of a size to be tted into a pen holder of a fountain pen above the writing pen and feeder thereof, said member having an air chamber with air passages from said chamberv to both extremities of said member and an ink passage extending throughout the length of said member from one extremity to the other independent of said air chamber.

6. A fountain pen comprising: an ink reserl voir; a pen holder at one extremity of said reser- Voir; a writing pen projecting from said holder; a feeder member in the lower extremity of said holder for feeding ink to said writing pen; an air chamber in said holder; a first air passage communicating between said chamber and said reservoir; a second air passage communicating between said chamber and said pen; an ink tube extending from said reservoir through said chamber to said feeder member; and an ink passage through said tube and through said feeder mempassage from said chamber through said feeder 25 ber to said pen.

member to said writing pen; and an ink passage y GLENN E. JOHJDOHL. 

